Aerosol generator



F. GAUCHARD AEROSOL GENERATOR Jan. 13, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DeC. 17, 1951 Jan. 13, 1953 F, GAUCHARD 2,625,156

AEROSOL GENERATOR Filed Dec. 17. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figa? Jam 13, 1953 F. GAUCHARD AEROSOL GENERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1951 /YVE NTol: WIW.

wrok/va r Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AEROSOL GENERATOR Fernand Gauchard, Santeny, France Application December 17, 1951, Serial No. 262,038 In France October 14, 1947 (Cl. 12S-173) 14 Claims. `1

The present specification is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 54,242, filed on October 13, 1948, now abandoned.

My invention covers a novel apparatus for the local application or for the introduction into the lungs of medicinal or veterinary products in the shape of a stable suspension in air oi a similar gasiform fluid of extremely fine particles.

It has been proved that such a manner of absorbing medicinal or veterinary products provides considerable advantages and leads to results that are highly interesting in the treatment of va large number of diseases.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple apparatus that is easy to handle and that includes means for adjusting the characteristic properties of the suspension obtained. It is, in fact, necessary for the operator to be allowed to adjust the size of the particles and their concentration, i, e. the number of particles contained in a predetermined volume of air inhaled by the patient, said adjustment being performed inv accordance with the depth to which the product is to enter inside the respiratory system, in accordance with the actual product and in accordance with the behaviour of the patient.

According to the main feature of said apparatus, the latter includes in combination an air compressor, an atomizer, which latter is fed with connected with the air compressor, means for' feeding the treating product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a chamber into which the atomizer projects a suspension of the product in compressed air, a system of bafe plates at the output of said chamber, a second, outer chamber inside which is housed the first chamber and into which is fed the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baiile plate system after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the surfaces of the baiile plate system, said outer chamber being made at least partly of a transparent material and being provided with a gauged opening closed by a non-return valve while the output end of said second outer charnber is connected with a pipe leading to the means that serve for applying the aerosol to the patient A further object of the invention consists in associating with the gauged opening means for adjusting its size in order to reduce to a varying extent the amount oi secondary air to be inhaledv by the patient, said adjustment modifying the speed of passage of the suspension through the baie plate system closing the first chamber.

A still further object of my invention consists in heating means inserted in the pipe feeding compressed air from the compressor to the atomizer in order to allow a preliminary treatment of the air that serves for atomization while preventing the air, that cools by reason of its expansion, from being appliedto the patient at a temperature lower than room temperature. Said heating means are preferably adjustable.

According to an auxiliary object of my invention, the baflle plate system is also adjustable whereby the baflied path followed by the suspension has more or less marked bends which ensure the removal of those particles the diameter of which is higher than a predetermined adjustable limit diameter.

This baille plate system may include a number of superposed rings each of which carries a perforated partition whereby the angular shifting of the rings with reference to one another allows obtaining a modification in the length of the baffle path provided for the suspension through the perforations of the superposed spaced parallel partitions.

In a second embodiment the baied path is provided by superposed stationary partitions carried inside a hollow body assuming the shape of a surface of revolution round the axis of a spindle and movable walls rigid with the said spindle, adapted to revolve therewith, the partitions oi the two series being perforated in a different manner and the angular setting of the movable walls with reference to the stationary partitions alternating therewith being adjustable through mere rotation round said axis.

In a third embodiment, the baile plate system includes three bell-shaped parts oi which two, directed downwardly, include an outer element tted over the output end of the first chamber and a second, inner, element communicating with the inside of the outer chamber, while the third element that faces upwardly, is adapted to engage more or less the annular gap between the two rst plates.

Various constructional embodiments of my invention will be disclosed hereinafter, reference being made to accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a general View of the apparatus, the air compressing and heating means being shown in cross-sectional view;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the actual aerosol generator associated with a first typeof lter or baiile system;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a second type of lter;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a third type of filter.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 is carried by a bed-plate I. It includes an electric motor 2 driving through one end of its shaft a fan sucking air through the slots 4 provided in the casing 5 carried by the bed plate I.

To the other end of the shaft of the motor 2 is keyed a centrifugal compressor 6, said centrifugal compressor compressing air into a capacity 7, inside which is mounted an electric resistance 8 providing for the heating of the compressed air entering said capacity.

This electric resistance is fed from the terminals 9 with the insertion therebetween of a rheostat I0. The pipe II, at the output of the capacity 1, is connected through a pipe I2 to the input I3 of the aerosol generator to feed the latter with heated compressed air.

The actual generator includes a support I (Fig. 2) carried in its turn by the general hedplate I of the apparatus. The support I4 of the generator has an outer cylindrical bearing surface in which is fitted a yielding packing I5, said cylindrical bearing surface being iitted inside a bell I6 of transparent material. Said bell IG is provided with an output connection IlV opening into its upper end, and to which is coupled a yielding pipe I8 provided at its further end with means for applying the aerosol to the patient as illustrated in Fig. 1 by the mouthpiece I9.

The support i4 is provided with a valve system constituted by a gauged opening 2@ closed by a flap valve 22 centrally carried on its seat 2I, through the agency of the radial ns 23. The gauged opening 2t in the support I4 registers with a transverse bore 24 communicating with thhe atmosphere through a further bore 25, both bores being provided in the same support I4.

Inside the bore 24 is housed the plug of a cock 26 the central knob of which, 2T, projects outwardly of the support I4.

The chamber constituted by the bell i6, 00mmunicates thus with the atmosphere through the opening 2G the cross-sectional area of which is adjusted through the angular setting given to the cock plug 26, the rotation or limits said area to a varying extent. On the. other hand, the gasiiorm nuid contained inside the bell cannot escape towards the atmosphere through the opening ZB by reason of the presence of the non-return valve constituted by the iiap valve 22.

The actual aerosol generator is constituted by a container 28 which holds theV liquid that is to form the suspended material in the aerosol.

The container 28 is capped by a hollow upright or flue 29 the lower end of which carries an atomizer 3 the feeding tube 3l of which opens into the bottom of the container 28 while compressed air is admitted to the atomizer through its inlet I3 and the pipe 32 connecting the latter with the actual atomizer.

The hollow upright 29 is closed at its upperV shaped member engaging the annular space between the cylindrical downwardly directed parts 33 and 35. The bottom part of the cup-shaped member 3l is perforated at 39, as illustrated.

The lower opening of the cylindrical partition 35 is closed by a nut 40 threaded over the rod 38 and rigid with radial arms extending up to the actual partition 35 so that the gasiform mixture may pass freely into lthe inside of the p-artition 35 between the successive radial arms on the nut 40.

The threaded rod 38 that engages said nut 40 may be driven into rotation through a spindle 4I rigid therewith and carrying a milled knob 42 above the cap 48.

rI vhe arrangement operates as follows:

The air compressed inside the rotary compressor 6 is heated in the chamber 'i through the electric resistance 8 and it flows through the line I2-I3-32 to provide for the atcmization at 30 of 4the liquid contained inside the container 28 into the nue 29. The dispersion thus obtained passes through the filter system inside which the larger particles of liquid are projected against the baille surfaces. The liquid collected inside the cup-shaped member 37 above the atomizer means passes through the perforations 39 in said cupshaped member and drops back into the container 28. The air carrying the nner liquid particles forming a suspension therein passes through the perforations 36 in the cover 34 and is dispersed inside the bell-shaped member I6. The characteristic properties of the suspension may be adjusted through action on the length of interengagement of the cylindrical walls 35, 33 and 3l and thereby on the size of the particles that should be such as will give the suspension the properties of a true aerosol. The aerosol concentration may be modied through a more or less considerable throttling of the input of atmospheric air, entering through the adjustable gauged opening 20.

The temperature of the air inside the chamber 'I is adjusted through the agency of the rheostat I0 in a manner such that after expanding inside the atomizer 3i), said air may assume substantially room temperature.

It is also possible to use as a filter, the baffle system illustrated in Fig. 3. This baiiie system isV constituted by a. superposition of any desired number of cup-shaped members 43 and 44 alterhating with one another. These cup-shaped members include vertical flanges dening the spacing between the members while their bottoms are perforated at 45 and respectively, the perforations 45 of the members d3 being provided at a distance from the axis of the members that is different from that corresponding to the perforations 46 of the members 54.

It is also possible to use the filter illustrated in Fig. 4. In this case, stationary plates are positioned inside the Hue 2S and prevent direct passage therethrough except through the slots or perforations 48. A rotary spindle 49 passes `through the superposed plates and is revolubly carried inside the two extreme partitions. The upper end of said spindle 49 carries a knob EU that allows adjusting its angular setting. Said spindle carries rigidly concave plates 5l of circular outline that are also provided with slots or perforations 52. The angular shifting of the spindle 49 will modify the angular' setting of the slots 49 with reference to the slots t8, thereby modifying the baffled path followed by the suspension in its way. through the first chamber constituted bythe flue 29 beyond which it enters the bell-shaped part I6.

Several features of the above invention have been disclosed but not claimed in my copending specification No. 54,243 of October 13, 1948, now Patent No. 2,600,503.

What I claim is:

1. A generator of aerosols containing at least one liquid basic product intended for inhalation comprising a compressor of aeriform fluid, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said gas compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed fluid from the compressor, a baffle system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside Which the rst container is housed and fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baille system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baffle system surfaces, said outer container being provided with an outlet and a gauged inlet opening for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said inlet opening and a pipe connected with the outlet of the second container.

2. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into Which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from a compressor, a baille system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the rst container is housed and adapted -to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baille system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baille system surfaces, said outer container being made at least partially of transparent material and provided With a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

3. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an aircompressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, a baille system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baille system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baille system surfaces, said outer container being made at least partially of transparent material and provided with a gauged inlet of atmospheric air, means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of said gauged inlet opening, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

4. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compressor, means for heating the compressed air produced by said compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, a baille system at the outlet of the containerv adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the rst container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baille system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baffle system surfaces, said outer container being made at least partially of transparent material and provided with a. gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

5. A gener-atar of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, an adjustable baille system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside Which the first container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baiile system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baffle system surfaces, said outer container being made at least partially of transparent material and provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

i6. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a cylindrical container open at one end and into the opposite end of which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, a baiile system at the open end of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, said baille system including a cap fitted over the first end of the container and provided with openings in its medial part, a cylindrical partition projecting into the container from a line formed in the cap on the outside of its openings, extending in substantially coaxial relationship With the container, a third coaxial member constituted by a cylindrical wall extending between the projecting partition and the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the container and by a bottom closing said Wall at its end remote from the cap and defining a sinuous path for the suspension with the container and the projecting partition, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baille system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baille system surfaces, said outer container being made at least partially of transparent material and provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second .container with last mentioned means.

7. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compreor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a cylindrical container open at one end and into the .opposite end of which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, a baie system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, said baiiie system including a cap iitted :over the first end of the container and provided with openings in its medial part, a. cylindrical partition projecting into the container from a line formed in the cap on the outside of the openings, extending in substantially coaxial relationship with the container, a third coaxial member constituted :by a cylindrical wall extending between the projecting partition and the corresponding portion of the inner surface of the container and by a bottom closing said wall at its end remote from the cap and provided with perforations and dening a sinuous 'path for the suspension with the container and the projecting partition, a threaded rod carrying the. bottom of the third member and slidingly passing through the centre of the cap, a knob controlling the upper end ci said rod, a nut screwed over said rod and radial spokes rigidly connecting said nut with the free edge of the projecting partition, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and .adapted to be fed `by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baiiie system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baiile system surfaces, said outer container being provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

8. A generator or" aerosols containing at least one liquid basic product intended for inhalation comprising a compressor of aeriform fluid, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said gas compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a susension of said product in a jet of compressed fluid from the compressor, a baiile system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, said baiiile system including a plurality of spaced superposed perforated plates fitted inside the container, the perforations in the successive plates being in staggered relationship, an outer container inside which the rst container is housed and fed by the aero-sol formed by the suspension passing out of the baffle system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the bailie system surfaces, said outer container being provided with an outlet and a gauged inlet opening for atmospheric air, a nonreturn Valve in said inlet opening and a pipe connected with the outlet of the second container.

9. A generator of aerosols containing at least one liquid basic product intended for inhalation comprising a compressor of aeriform fluid, an

atomizer, a pipe connecting said gas compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed uid from the compressor, a baie system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, said .baiile system including a plurality of spaced stationary perforated plates tted inside the container and a rotary plate system constituted .by a rod extending through the stationary plates, by auxiliary perforated plates rigid with said rod and housed inside the container between the successive stationary plates, and by a hand operable knob controlling the angular location of the rod, an outer container inside which the rst container is housed and fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baffle system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baille system surfaces, said outer container being provided with an outlet and a .gauged inlet opening for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said inlet .opening and a pipe connected with the outlet of the second container.

1G. A generator of aerosols containing at least one liquid basic product intended for inhalation comprising a compressor of aeriform uid, means for heating the compressed fluid produced by said air compressor, means for adjusting last mentioned means, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said gas compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed fluid from the compressor, a battle system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the haiile system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baiile system surfaces, said outer container being provided with an outlet and a gauged inlet opening for atmospheric air, means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of said gauged inlet opening, a nonreturn valve in said inlet opening and a pipe connected with the outlet of the second container.

l1. A generator of aerosols containing a medicinal product comprising an air compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, an adjustable baiiie system at the outlet of the container adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impinging against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the rst container is housed and adapted to he fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baffle system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baiiie system surfaces, said outer container being provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, means for adjusting the crosssectional area of said gauged inlet opening, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means.

12. A generator of aerosols containing a medithe aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, an adjustable baie system at the outlet of the container adapted t0 collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension imping'- ing against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the baiile system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baie system surfaces, said outer container being provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container with last mentioned means. 13. A generator of aerosols containing a medcinal product comprising an air compressor,A means for heating the compressed air produced by said compressor, an atomizer, a pipe connecting said air compressor with the atomizer, means for feeding the product that is to form the aerosol to said atomizer, a container into which the atomizer projects a suspension of said product in a jet of compressed air from the compressor, an adjustable baiiie system at the outlet of the con# tainer adapted to collect the larger liquid particles of the suspension impingng against its surfaces, an outer container inside which the first container is housed and adapted to be fed by the aerosol formed by the suspension passing out of the bae system, after separation of the liquid particles impinging on the baiiie system surfaces, said outer container being provided with a gauged inlet for atmospheric air, means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of said gauged inlet open ing, a nonreturn valve in said opening, means for applying the aerosol to the patient and a pipe connecting the outlet of the second container With last mentioned means.

14. An aerosol generator comprising an air compressor, adjustable means for heating the compressed air produced by the compressor, a pipe fed bythe heated compressed air at the outlet of last mentioned means, an atomizer fed by said pipe, means feeding the atomizer with a liquid product to be incorporated to an aerosol, a container having an inlet fed by the jet of compressed air and liquid suspended therein formed by the atomizer and an outlet registering with the axis of the jet, a system of bafe plates fitted in the outlet of the container and adapted to stop the heavier particles of liquid and thereby to transform the suspension into an aerosol that passes out of the baffle system, an outer container enclosing the outlet of the baille system and provided with an outlet registering with the outlet of the baiile system, a receiver for the aerosol passing out of the outlet of the outer container and adjustable nonreturn inlet means for atmospheric air into the outer container.

FERNAND GAUCHARD.

No references cited. 

